Thinking about getting one of those amazing little computers on your wrist? When it comes to features and price, you've got options galore. Do you want a simple fitness tracker, an advanced smartwatch, or the ultimate in sport smartwatches: the fēnix 6/6S/6X outdoor fitness watch. When it comes to the fēnix 6 Garmin watches, there's really no comparison, but let's do it anyway ...
Welcome to the robust Garmin fēnix 6 series vs the Apple Watch 6 vs the Fitbit Sense/Versa 3 comparison!
Check out the Garmin fenix 7 series, released on January 18, 2022, on PlayBetter!
And watch this fenix 7 review and find out why our partner Dave at Chase the Summit says its the best GPS multisport watch Garmin has ever made!
Whether you're an amateur or an athlete, the sport-specific savvy of the fēnix 6 series pairs perfectly with your dogged determination. Off the charts in terms of design, tracking, training, health monitoring, and more, the fēnix 6/6S/6X has the advanced features you want on-wrist, during everything from triathlon training to climbing that next rock wall.
But what if you're a dedicated iPhone person, how does the Apple Watch 6 measure up to these Garmin fēnix 6 adventure smartwatches? And what about the widespread popularity of Fitbit activity trackers? Can one of these offer you everything you're looking for in a smartwatch with fitness savvy?
The answer, of course, depends on how you want to use your smartwatch. Do you want a fitness watch that has more of a software edge, is more fitness- and health-tracking oriented, or one that blows everything else out of the water (or mountains or wherever you're crushing goals)?
In this article, we compare the the fēnix 6/6S/6X vs the Apple Watch 6 vs Fitbit Versa 3 and Sense and will demonstrate how the fēnix 6 is the only one that can keep up with all you outdoor fitness and adventure junkies!
Advanced workouts, interval training, and features for running, cycling, and swimming—always within reach!
Know your body's shape while you get in shape with wrist-based heart rate, advanced sleep, Body Battery™ energy monitor, Women's Health, and much more!
Get multi-GNSS (GPS, Galileo, & GLONASS) for more reliable tracking in that challenging terrain you just can't stay out of!
Get the convenience of your phone on your wrist. fēnix 6 watches give you smart notifications, music, and more right there!
Feel good and look good before, during, and after your workout with a Garmin fēnix 6 GPS smartwatch!
9 days or more battery life in smartwatch mode and up to 2 months with solar power in expedition mode—that's fēnix 6!
All 3 of the fēnix 6 sizes (6S=smaller, 6=medium-er, 6X=larger) have the same sport and fitness training and analysis features. The main difference between the sizes are battery life and materials, and size and weight, of course. There are also 4 SKUs for each size: standard, Pro, Sapphire, and Pro Solar (exception: the 6X does not have a standard size). As far as sport savvy, Garmin loads their tech into all of these models, which includes:
Basically, Garmin took every watch they ever made for every segment, and dropped it in one watch!
While it doesn't exactly shine on the fitness side, the Apple Watch 6 does bring some game to the yard with:
This popular fitness tracker is very basic, with features that include:
In the realm of fitness features, this activity tracking smartwatch adds nothing new compared to the Versa 3.
Garmin fēnix 6 Sapphire
Apple Watch 6
Fitbit Versa 3
Fitbit Sense
Again, all sizes of the fēnix 6 share the same features. Their robust suite of health monitoring features include:
The Fitbit Sense fitness tracking smartwatch provides all the health monitoring features as the Versa 3, plus:
Garmin fēnix 6X Sapphire
Apple Watch 6
Fitbit Sense
We gave the Apple Watch top billing in this section, because if you lean harder on the smartwatch side of things or are a diehard iPhone person, it might win out over a Garmin for you.
For the standard model of the fēnix 6 series, you get:
The Pro version adds music compatibility, maps and Wi-Fi connectivity.
Everything you get with the Pro with a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal lens on top.
Adds incomparable solar-charging technology to your fēnix 6/6S/6X battery life.
The Fitbit Sense smartwatch adds the following to the features in the Versa 3:
Apple Watch 6
Fitbit Sense
Garmin fēnix 6S
See for yourself ... there's just no living up to a Garmin's battery life!
fēnix 6S, Pro, Sapphire, & Pro Solar:
Smartwatch: Up to 9 days/10.5 days with solar
Battery Saver Watch Mode:
Up to 34 days/59 days with solar
GPS: Up to 25 hours/28 hours with solar
GPS + Music: Up to 6 hours
Max Battery GPS Mode:
Up to 50 hours/64 hours with solar
Expedition GPS Activity:
Up to 20 days/26 days with solar
fēnix 6, Pro, Sapphire, & Pro Solar:
Smartwatch: Up to 14 days/16 days with solar
Battery Saver Watch Mode:
Up to 48 days/80 days with solar
GPS: Up to 36 hours/40 hours with solar
GPS + Music: Up to 10 hours
Max Battery GPS Mode:
Up to 72 hours/93 hours with solar
Expedition GPS Activity:
Up to 28 days/36 days with solar
fēnix 6X, Pro, Sapphire, & Pro Solar:
Smartwatch: Up to 21 days/24 days with solar
Battery Saver Watch Mode:
Up to 80 days/120 days with solar
GPS: Up to 60 hours/66 hours with solar
GPS + Music: Up to 15 hours/16hours with solar
Max Battery GPS Mode:
Up to 120 hours/148 hours with solar
Expedition GPS Activity:
Up to 46 days/56 days with solar
The Apple Watch Series 6 smartwatch is still stuck at an 18-hour battery life.
6+ day battery life. Varies with use and other factors; up to 12 hours with continuous GPS.
6+ day battery life. Varies with use and other factors; up to 12 hours with continuous GPS.
Garmin fēnix 6S Pro Solar
Apple Watch 6
Fitbit Versa 3
Size: The fēnix 6S display is smaller compared to the rest in the fēnix 6 lineup—1.2” (30.4 mm) diameter.
Color: white, black, rose gold, powder gray, carbon gray/black, rose gold/ black nylon, light gold/shale gray (leather), rose gold/white, silver/black, light gold/light sand, amethyst steel/shale gray (colors available with certain SKUs; go to our fēnix 6S and fēnix 6S Pro Solar product pages to view).
Size: The fēnix 6 display is mid-range compared to the rest in the fēnix 6 lineup—1.3” (33.02 mm) diameter.
Color: black, silver/black, carbon gray/black, titanium gray/orange, black DLC/red nylon, titanium, black/slate, slate/black, mineral blue/whitestone, titanium carbon gray DLC (colors available with certain SKUs; go to our fēnix 6 and fēnix 6 Pro Solar product pages to view).
Size: The fēnix 6X display is larger compared to the rest in the fēnix 6 lineup—1.4” (35.56 mm) diameter.
Color: black, carbon gray, leather, titanium (colors available with certain SKUs; go to our fēnix 6X product page to view).
Apple has a huge variety of styles for their latest wearable, but they also come with a variety of price tags that can go upwards of $1,200. It has a square-ish display available in 2 sizes: 44mm or 40mm case size.
Size: Offers a custom AMOLED display (1.59in l x 1.59in w x 0.49in h) and 2 band sizes: Small—Fits wrist 5.5" - 7.1" in circumference; Large—Fits wrist 7.1" - 8.7" in circumference.
Color: Black/Black Aluminum, Midnight/Soft Gold Aluminum, Pink Clay/Soft Gold Aluminum, Thistle / Soft Gold Aluminum, & Olive / Soft Gold Aluminum
Size: Offers a custom AMOLED display (1.59in l x 1.59in w x 0.49in h) and 2 band sizes: Small—Fits wrist 5.5" - 7.1" in circumference; Large—Fits wrist 7.1" - 8.7" in circumference.
Color: Sage Grey / Silver Stainless Steel, Carbon/Graphite Stainless Steel, & Lunar White/Soft Gold Stainless Steel
Garmin fēnix 6
The Fitbit Sense and Versa 3 offer substantial health and wellness features along with basic activity tracking and smart features. But for the price, it doesn't beat the Forerunner 55.
Without a doubt, the Apple Watch 6 offers a robust smartwatch experience that will no doubt be attractive to iPhone users.
But across the board, the Garmin fēnix 6 lineup offers an experience you can't get with a Fitbit or Apple Watch. If you're the kind of person who goes beyond daily life often, then this watch can go with you, supporting your outdoor adventure side as well as the daily grind! Check out our fēnix 6 series article to see a fēnix 6/6S/6X comparison chart with side-by-side features!
